NCT07031362

The Effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Saturation in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Distance-Saturation Product and Clinical Outcomes in IPF Patients With and Without Exercise-Induced Desaturation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (actual)
• Sponsor: Izmir Katip Celebi University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on health outcomes and the distance-saturation product in patients with IPF, by comparing two distinct groups: those who experience desaturation and those who do not during the six-minute walk test (6MWT).

Detailed description

Exercise-induced dyspnea and desaturation are distinguishing features of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); these symptoms are associated with disease severity and poorer prognosis. The distance-saturation product, which combines the distance walked and oxygen saturation by multiplying the two measures, has been identified as a predictor of mortality. Patients with IPF who completed the pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program were included in the study. Pre- and post-program assessments included spirometric measurements, arterial blood gas values, perception of dyspnea using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, exercise capacity via the six-minute walk test (6MWT), health-related quality of life using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and psychological symptoms assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally, the distance-saturation product was calculated by multiplying the distance walked by the oxygen saturation at the end of the 6MWT. Patients whose oxygen saturation dropped to 88% or below during the pre-rehabilitation 6MWT were classified as the desaturation group, while those with oxygen saturation of 89% or above were classified as the non-desaturation group. The obtained data were compared between these two groups.

Conditions

• IPF
• Pulmonary Fibrosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION	All patients who participated in the pulmonary rehabilitation and physiotherapy program underwent sessions lasting approximately two hours, conducted twice weekly over a period of eight weeks. The exercise program included breathing exercises, relaxation and stretching exercises, peripheral muscle strengthening exercises, and aerobic training.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-01-01
• Primary completion: 2019-10-30
• Completion: 2025-05-01
• First posted: 2025-06-22
• Last updated: 2025-06-22